Aussie Book Review: The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley by Viveka Portman

Book reviews

27 July

The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley by Viveka Portman ebook Review copy provided by netgalley/ publisher Escape Publishing, July 2013 Synopsis- Lady Catherine Bexley is new to marriage and the marriage bed, but surely there must be more to it than this? Her husband is proper and perfunctory — treating her with careful respect but leaving her aching for more.When she witnesses a gentleman disciplining a maid at a house party, the ache explodes into ravenous desire. She finds herself no longer willing to wait for her husband’s stiff and passionless attentions — and soon develops a naughty plan to finally get what she wants.Review: The Diary of Lady Catherine is a short historical erotica story by Australian author Viveka Portman. I downloaded a copy via netgalley as I wanted something quick and easy to read on my kindle and I was not disappointed!Set in England the story is told through Lady Catherine’s diary entries as she tries to makes sense of her growing sexual desires while trying to remain an upstanding lady in the eyes of her new husband.Their first sexual encounter is a little uncomfortable, an unemotional encounter with the sole purpose of siring an heir. Her husband is not particularly enticing in this moment and Lady Catherine is left feeling dissatisfied and confused. Is this what married life will be like always, she wonders? As her sexual desires intensify she becomes more bold in making her needs known and though her husband is obviously tempted he fears if he gives into his lust he will become like his father.When Lady Catherine stumbles across a scandalous liaison between a Lord and a maid and witnesses an act she can only dream of, she learns of the potential that lies in the bedroom that her marriage shies away from. She decides she must seduce her husband in order to have her womanly needs met.I was pleasantly surprised by this story. It’s a little obscene at times but set against the backdrop of the historical era and the role of a lady, I quite enjoyed the contrast. The unfiltered diary entries allowed the protagonist to talk about her desires and fears and I quite liked her. The Diary of Lady Catherine is a quick, saucy read and one of the better erotica shorts that I’ve read thus far.